Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-24
The Story of Kunz' Murder, as Told by
One OF the Gang.

The Story of Kunz' Murder, as Told by
One of the Gang.
WEAvERvILLE, January 23d.-In the trial
of George H. Kunz, for the murder of Geo.
Erickson at Mad river, September 8, 1886.
the prosecution rested on Friday afternoon.
The defense then demanded that the peo-
pie be required to place George Orr,ta CO.
conspirator, who had been examined at the
preliminary examination, on the witness
stand, which the Court denied.
John Norris, another conspirator, testl-
fled, his evidence being substantially as
contained in his statement to detective
Lawson. Yesterday morning Mr.. Knight
for the prosecution asked to reopen their
case that he might introduce Orr, in COM
pliance with defendants wish, and other
witnesses to substantiate Orr. This was
granted by the Court, and Orr proceeded to
testify, being still held jointly with Kunz
and others for the murder of Erickson.
0rr's testimony was most positive. In brief
he related how he went to work for Kunz
in June last, and how few days later he
was approached by him with proposition
to kill Erickson for $500. Kunz continued
to importune him nearly every time they
were alone together, until on July 4th
KuDz detailed plans for the murder and the
certainty of not being detected so plainly
and plausibly that Orr consented to do the
deed. He also told how about August list
John Norris came to Kunz's house and told
him Orr to go ahead and it would be all
right, and also said, in answer to the ques-
ton, "When or how soon~ The sooner
the better" and informed him that the
money would be paid through Kunz later
on. Orr told his wife, and partly through
her appeals he relented and afterwards told
Kunz that he would not kill Erickson or
have anything to do with it. On Septem-
Der It'll Kunz and Orr went out to work on
brush fence. Kunz rode off, leaving Orr
at work, early in the morning and did not
return until o'clock in the afternoon,
when he told Orr that he had shot Erick-
son on the Mad river trail when Erickson
was returning home from Hettenchow.
Kunz and Orr visited Erickson's house that
evening and also the dead body of Erickson
by the side of the trail, and the next morn
ing assisted in having the body conveyed
home. They also aided at the Coroner s
inquest.
Slips or notes in Kunzs handwriting
which had passed between him and Orr
while they were confined in adjoining cells
in the county Jail, were introduced in evil
dence and identified by Orr, as also list of
questions which at that time had been pre-
pared by Detective Lawson for Orr to write
and pass to Kunz on like slips of paper,
and to which those introduced were Kunz' 8
answers. Many other evidences of Kunz' S
guilt were presented.
A number of witnesses, including Orr's
wife, were introduced, and corroborated his
testimony in a number of particulars.
Others will follow tomorrow. While the
defense has not yet been heard, public SEN
timent seems unanimous in the belief that
plain case of premeditated brutal and
cowardly murder has been fully established
and that the jury will so find
LATEB-KUNz CONVICTED.
TRINITY CENTER, January 23d.-At
Weaverville, in this county, in the trial of
George Kunz, for the murder of George
Erickson last fall, the case was submitted
to the jury last night. The jury was out
three-quarters of an hour, and brought in a
verdict of murder in the first degree. Kunz
will hang.